Boxing Day
Boxing Day is usually on 26 December in the United Kingdom, Canada and some other Commonwealth
countries. The day after Christmas Day is also known as St Stephen's Day or the Feast of Stephen
as mentioned in the carol 'Good King Wenceslas'.
The origins of Boxing Day are uncertain. The name could have come about from the custom of priests
opening alms boxes in churches after Christmas. These held money which had been given for needy
people in the days coming up to Christmas. Another story of how it began is from the tradition
of employers and wealthy people giving their servants and trades people Christmas boxes (gifts)
as a way of saying thank you for good service throughout the year.